
Celebrating the Juneteenth holiday, the Georgia Entertainment Caucus and the Black American Music Association inducted the first group of stars into the Black Music And Entertainment Walk Of Fame. The inaugural class included current recording legends like Beyoncé, Usher, OutKast, Kirk Franklin, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Kirk Franklin. The walk of fame will also include pioneers like Shirley Caesar, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones. Rounding out the star-studded class, Michael Jackson, James Brown and Otis Redding were all posthumously honored.
“People always say that this is Black Hollywood, so why do we not have Hollywood squares to celebrate our Blackness? It’s so important that today we make history,” Georgia State Representative Erica Thomas explained.
In the coming weeks, tourists will be welcome to come and witness the new attraction. Located in downtown Atlanta, the walk of fame will be situated on the sidewalks of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Northside Drive.
“In the same way that Atlanta has influenced the civil rights movement, and we continue to set the bar so very high, we know that we continue to influence music,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms added.
“I am so appreciative to the Black American Music Association and the Georgia Entertainment Caucus for coming up with this incredible idea.”
Watching @MissyElliott tear up while getting inducted into the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame…wow. pic.twitter.com/JsdpmpBNZC
— Jewel Wicker (@jewelwickershow) June 17, 2021